Auxiliary step for car-platforms.



J. R. KUNZELMAN.

AUXILIARY STEP FOR CAR PLATFORMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. e, l9l5- Patented May 25, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTG-LITHIZ. WASHING TON. D C.

J. R. KUNZELMAN.

AUXILIARY STEP FOR CAR PLATFORMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 5. I915. 1,141,064, Patented May 25, 1915.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO4. PHDTO-LITHOH WASHUVPTUN D- C.

J. R. KUNZELMAN.

AUXILIARY STEP FOR CAR PLATFORMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, I9I5- 1,141,064. Patented May 25, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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J. R. KUNZELMAN.

AUXILIARY STEP FOR CAR PLATFORMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1915. 1,141,064. Patented May 25, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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Zz/MZQ III) NORRIS PE Iblf': c0. PHOm-LHHO. WASHING font. 0 C

J. R. KUNZELMAN.

AUXILlARY STEP FOR CAR PLATFORMS.

APPLICATION FILED MM. 6, I915. 1,141,064. Patented May 25, 1915.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTC1LITHO" WASHING ION D. C.

v platforms, filed June 29th, .1914, under Se- JOHN R. KUNZELMAN, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

AUXILIARY STEP FOR GAR-PLATFORMS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. KUNZELMAN,

a citizen of. the United States, residing. at

Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auxiliary Steps for Gar-Platforms; and I do hereby declare the followingjto be a full, clear, and exact de- 1 scription of the invention, such as will en- 1 able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in auxiliary steps for car platforms of the type disclosed and claimed in my Letters Patent of. the UnitedStates, .No. 1,070,565, issued of date November 25th, 1913, entitled Car step, and No. 1,089,481, issued of date March th, 1914, entitled Auxiliary step for car platforms, and in my co-pending application, entitled Auxiliary step for car rial Number 847,828, and formally allowed August 26th, 1914.

To theabove end, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described ancl defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in end elevation, of a car body and vestibule, having applied thereto in working position the improved auxiliary step; Fig. 2 is a view, inside elevation, of the parts shown in Fig. 1, some parts being broken away, some parts being shown in section, andrsome parts being shown in different positions by means of broken lines; Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the auxiliary step folded and the trap door closed, some parts being broken I away and some of the exposed parts being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a view, principally in side'elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3, some parts being sectioned on the line X 'X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a right end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2, some parts beingbroken away; Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken 011 the line X X of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the left-hand toggle lever, on an enlarged scale. provided for raising and lowering the auxiliary step, some parts being shown in different positions by means of broken lines; Fig.8is an, outside side elevation of the Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedMay25,1915.

Application filed March 6, 1915. Serial No. 12,515. 1

parts shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a detail view with some parts sectioned on the line X X".

of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detail view, principally in section, taken on the line X X of 'Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, taken on the line X X of Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is a view in vertical section, taken on the line X" X of Fig. 4 and also showing, in section, a housing for the parts of the auxiliary step operating devices, located under the platform steps, some parts being indicated in different positions, by means of broken lines; Fig. 13 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in verticalsection taken on the line X X of Fig. 3; Fig.14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 13 with the exception that some parts are shown in different positions; Fig. 15 is a view of a modification of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 15, some parts being broken away and some of the exposed parts being shown in section; Fig. 17 is a view in the side elevation of a modification of theparts shown in Fig. 13; and Fig. 18 is a view partly in edge elevation and partly in section taken on the line X X of Fig. 17.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive: Of the parts of the car illustrated, it is only necessary to note the body 1, vestibule 2,.main steps 3, secured between side walls 4, and leading to the vestibule platform 5, and a trap door 6. This trap door 6 is hinged at 7 for vertical swinging movement to and from operative such as springs incorporated in the hinges 7,

or a latch secured to the vestibule and engageable with the free edge of the trap door 6.

As is well known, the lower car step is usually located so high above the road-bed that it is practically impossible to step upon the same without the use of a stool, unless an elevated platform is provided at the station. To take the place of these removable stepping stools, I provide an improved auxiliary step mounted for raising and lowering movements from an inoperative position to an operative position, and vice versa.

The improved auxiliary step comprises a bearings 16, secured to the under sideof the rigidly secured to the rock shaft 18, and the.

tread 8, having vertically eXtended'end and back flanges 9 and 10 respectively and a riser 11 in the form of a pair of parallel supporting links. The upper ends ofthese links 11 are pivotally secured at 12 to the side walls 4, and the lower ends thereof are pivotallysecured to the end flanges 9 in a position to be engaged by the 'flangelO,

which affords a stop to limit the unfolding movement of thetread 8.-

(A pair of upwardly buckling toggle levers 13and 14 are provided for moving the auxil iary step to and from operative .posltions and to hold the same' locked in anoperatlve position; Theouter ends of the lower arms a of the levers 13 and 14-are provided withinwardly proj ecting trunnions 15, j ournaled in tread 8. The outer ends of-the'upper arms of the 'leversi1-3 and 14 terminate in hubs 17,

keyed toithe ends of arock shaft 18, journaled in the side walls 4. a

A coiled spring 19,mounted on the rock shaft 18, tends to rotate said rock shaft in a direction to straighten-the toggle "levers 13 and 14. One end of this spring 19 is anchored to a radially projecting arm 20 other 'end thereof is anchored to the disk 21, loosely journaled on said rock shaft. The

disk 21 is secured against rotation with the rock shaft 18 by a spring latch 22 secured to the side wall 4, adjacent thecar body 1, and

with its free end arranged to enter any one 7 of a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced perforations 23,.formed in said disk; Ob-

viously, by releasing the latch 22 from the 7 disk 21, saiddisk may be rotated, by any suitable tool on the rock shaft 18 for the purpose of placing the coiled spring 19 under the desired tension.

' To prevent the auxiliary step 8 from unfolding or opening toofast, under the action of the coiled spring19, is provided retarding device in the form of a dash pot 24 and a cooperating stem equipped piston 25;

The outer end of the stem of the piston 25 is pivoted at 26 to the arm 20, and the dash pot 24 is suspended, by a pin 27, from a bearing 28 on' one of the steps 3 for vertical swinging movement, transversely of the rock shaft 18. The action of the retarding device maybe regulated in the customary manner by a cook 29, located in the bottom of the dash pot 24.

At the oint of each toggle lever 13 and 14 is a shield, o'r saddle, 30 and which provides the joint or connection between the arms ofthe respective toggle lever. The inner .ends of the arms of the toggle "levers 13 and 14 are embraced by the sides of the respective shields '30, and are rigidly secured thereto by rivets 31. The innerends of the lower arms of the toggle levers 13 and 14 are also embraced by the sides of the respective shields 30 and are pivotally secured thereto oifset pivots 32, which allow the buckling and straightening movementsof said toggle levers. Obviously, the shields 30 afford stops to limit the straightening" movements of the togglelevers 13 and 14, and also prevent the placing of nails or other obstructions in the successful operation.

Pro ecting horizontally y outward from to engage the lower edge of the lower arm of the respective toggle lever when the tread 8 is in an operative or lowered position.

The purpose of these stops 33 is to assist insupp'orting the tread 8 in 'an 'operative posijoints of said toggle-levers to prevent their tion and to cause a positive 'foldingmove ment thereof during the initial buckling movement ofthe toggle levers 13 and 14.

'Fulcrumed'to the inner face of the' outer wall of the vestibule 2, just above the platform 5, is a hand lever 34 havingpivoted platform 5 and its lower end is bent laterally to afford a horizontally e'Xtendedfingerspring 19, the same is automatically locked.

in this position by a depending spring latch I thereto a" long depending rod 35. This rod 35 works freely through an aperture'in the hook 38, having a cam surface 39. The up--- per end of the arm of the latch 38, is secured to the under side of the vestibule floor 5 for lateral yielding movement, transversely: of the toggle lever13, and its cam surface 39 is arranged to be engaged by said toggle lever during its buckling movement, and moved laterally thereby out,of the path of movement of said toggle lever. After the toggle lever 13 has passed the lock hook 38, the

same immediately returns to an operative position under said toggle lever and thereby holds said lever againststraightening :movement.

The latch hook 38 is moved laterally against its spring tension to release the buckled toggle lever 13by a link 38 and a loop 38*. One end of the link 38 is pivotally secured to a fixed bearing 38",;and the other end thereof is pivotally secured to the the latch hook 38 and is pivotally secured to the intermediate portion of the link 38% The bearing 38 is secured to the adjacent side wall 4 and acts as a base of resistance for the link 38*. In the operative position of the latch hook 38 andthe lowered posirod 35. The loop 38 embraces the'arm of a 75 each bearing 16 is as'top pin 33, arranged tion of the rod 35, the pivotal connection be-- .130 i tween the link 38 and loop 38 is vertically below the pivotal connection of said link with (the bearing 38. By drawing upward on the rod 35, thelink 38 is moved into such a position as to carry the pivot point of the gle lever 13' and thereby permits said toggle lever to be straightened.

;When the lever 34 is raised to release the toggle lever 13 by the movement of the spring latch 38 into an inoperative position, the finger 36 is alsoraised. During the lowering movementuof the step 8, the finger 36 is engaged by the toggle lever 13 .at the limit of its straightening movement and moved downward thereby together with the rod 35 and the lever 34. This downward movement of the rod 35 releases the spring latch 38 through the connections 3838 andallows said latch to automatically resume its operative position.

The auxiliary step may be simultaneously raised or lowered with the closing and opening movements of the trap door 6, or it may be raised and lowered when the trap door 6 is. locked open by a hand operated lever 40. This lever40 is mounted for longitudinal slidingi movements on the upper armof the toggle lever 13, and has integrally formed with its inner end a pair of guide lugs 41 which embrace the said upper arm with freedom forlongitudinal sliding movement thereon. In the forward portion of the lever 40 is formed a longitudinally extended slot 42, within which works a headed extension 43 on one of the rivets 31. The body of the extension 43 is somewhat larger in the diameter of the respective pin 31, to thereby afford a stop shoulder which prevents the head of the extension 43 from being drawn onto the lever 40, and thereby prevents free sliding movement of said lever. When the lever 40 is not in use, the same is moved into an inoperative position, as best shown by full lines in Figs. 7 and 8, and when in an operative position the same is drawn into an extended position, as shownby dotted lines in Fig. 7, and which affords an extension of the upper arm of the toggle lever 13. The purpose of mounting the levers 34 and 40 on the same side of the vestibule is to permit the lock hook 38-to be operated, and the tread 8 raised or lowered, by a person on the outside of the vestibule.

A jointed lever 44, arranged to fold in one direction only, is provided for raising opening 45 in the inner side wall 4, and the pivot 46 of its joint is journaled in a me tallic casing 47 for the opening 45. The short end of the lever 44 is connected to the intermediate portion of the upper arm of the toggle lever 14 by a link 48. This link is made longitudinally adjustable by screwing its upper end into a sleeve 49, which is pivotally secured to the short end of the lever 44 by a cotter pin 50. Obviously, by removing the cotter pin 50 and turning the sleeve 49 with respect to the link 48, said link may be lengthened or shortened at will. The outer end of the long end of the lever 44 is connected to the trap door 6 for pivotal and sliding movements by a pin 51 extended transversely therethroughp'ancl 7 having its ends mounted for pivotal and sliding movements in a longitudinally extended slot 52, formed in a recess bearing 53, secured to the under side of the trap door 6. a m

The rock shaft 18 and retarding devices 24 and 25, located under the steps 3, "are. inclosed by a housing 54, having a hinged door 55, affording access to the interior of said housing.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16: The spring 19* is arranged to work in an opposite direction from the spring 19, or in other words, the spring 19 tends to buckle the toggle levers 13 and 14 and fold the auxiliarystep 8. A

hand lever 56, fulcrumed in a segmental casing 57 is provided for lowering the auxiliary step 8 against the tension of the spring 19. The segmental casing 57 is bolted to the floor 5 and is provided with a peripheral slot in which the lever 56 works and through which the hand piece of said lever projects. A link 58 connects the intermediate portion of the lever 56 with the joint of the toggle lever 13. and works through a vertical slot formed in the end sill of the car platform. The hand lever 56 is held in its two extreme positions by lock notches 59 formed in the peripheryof the casing 57, and with which notches said lever automatically engages under a lateral springing action.

Normally the auxiliary step 8 is held in a folded position by the lever 56 and co6p erating upper look notch 59. To lower the step 8, the lever 56 is first moved laterally.

erally out of engagement with the lower lock notch 59 and the action of the spring 19 will buckle the toggle levers 13 and 14,

fold the step 8, and move the lever 56"into its uppermost position. The lever 56, upon reaching its uppermost position, will automatically spring laterally into interlocking" engagement with the upper lock notch 59 and thereby secure the step 8 inits folded position.

auxiliary step 8, all danger'of the said step accidentally moving into an operative 'position, where the same projects outwardfrom .]By arranging the springv l9 to 'fold the the side o'f'the car and is liable to -cause accidents when thetrain ismoving, i's elimi nated. The lever '56 is so positioned that th may beeasily manipulated by person standing either on thescar steps or the station platform.

* Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. 17, and 18 :This construc- 1 tionprovides an extremely simple means for releasing the latch hook 38 from engagement with the lever 13 when said lever is held thereby in a buckled position. In this construction the arm of the latch hook 88 is a transversely bent to afford a cam surface 60.

A relatively short hand lever 61 is fulcrume'd at 62 to the adjacent side wall 4,

extends transversely of the arm of the latch hook 38, and is normally held in a plane just below the cam surface 60, so that when said leveris'raised the same engages said cam surface and thereby cams the latch hook 38 into an inoperative position to release the engaged togglelever 13.

The lever 61, forward of its contact with the cam 60, is pivotally secured to a laterally,

projecting lug 63' on the rod 35. By thus connecting the lever 61 to the rod 35, the same is returned'to. normal position, to release the spring latch 38 by the toggle lej ver 13 coming in contact with its finger 36,

.during. its straightening movement.

y means ofthe lever 61 the latch hook 38 may be manipulated by a person standing on the station platform without having to reach up of a step leading to said platform, and

mounted for raising and lowering movements, means for operatmgsald step, and an air checkafi'ording a retarding device of the piston anddash pot type, operative to check the movement of said step.

" 2."Thecombination'with a car platform,

of a fstep leading to said platform, and

mounted for raising and loweringemove ments', means for operating said" step, ii'n cludinga rock shaft, andf an air check'af fl fording a retarding deviceoperative'on said rock shaft to check thefmovement offsai d step.

3..The combination "with a platform,

of a step leading-to said platform; and' mounted for raising and lowering. 'movef.

eluding a rockshaft, a spring tendingito'roments, means for operating said step, 111- tate said rock shaft in one direction, anda retarding, device operative to checkjfthe'. I j a car platform, t of 'a fstep leading to said platform, I and movement of said step.

4. The combination with mounted for'raising and lowering move-j ments, means for operating said step,includ'- mg a rock shaft having an arm, and a spring and a retarding device operative on said arm, the formeritending to rotate said rock shaft the latter tending to movement of said step.

" 5. The combination with a car platform,

check the of a step leading to said platform, and. i

mounted for raising and lowering ,movements, means for operating said step, in-

cluding a rock shaft'having an arm, a disk j ournaled on said rock shaft, acoiled spring mounted on said'rock shaft, and anchoredat one end to said arm, and'at it's otherjend to said disk, and a lock operative on said-disk. to hold the same in different set adjustments I 6. The combination with a car platform,"

for varying the tension of said spring.

of step leading to said platform, and mounted for raising and lowering move ments, means for operating said step, including a rock shaft having an arm, a disk journaled on said rock'shafha coiled spring mounted on said rock shaft/and anchored at one end to said arm, and at its other end; to said disk, a lock operative on said disk to a v 7 hold the same in different set adjustments for varying the tension of said spring, and

a retarding device of the piston and dash not i type, operative on saidarm to check the movement of said step. t

7. The combination with a car'vestibule, main steps leading to-the platform thereof, and a trap door hinged to said platform and covering said steps, of an auxiliary step mounted for-raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said auX- iliary step, an intermediately fulcrumed le-.,

ver, and'a longitudinally adjustable connection between said lever and one of the arms of said toggle lever, the other end of said intermediately fulcrumedilever being connected to said trap door, wherebysaidauxiliary step may be operated bythe opening and closing movements of said trap door.

8. The combination 'with a car platform,

of a step leading to saidplatformf'and' mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step,

of a step leading to said platform, and

mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, and a lever extension slidably mounted on one of the arms of said toggle lever for movement to and from an operative position, said lever extension being provided for operating said toggle lever.

10. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, yielding means operative on said toggle lever and tending to move the step into one of its extreme positions, a lever for moving the step into its other extreme position, against the action of said ylelding means, and means, including said lever, for automatically securing said step in one of its extreme positions.

11. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, and means for automatically locking said toggle lever in a buckled position.

12. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, means for automatically locking said toggle lever in a buckled position, and means for releasing said toggle lever when locked in a buckled position.

13. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and ,mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, a spring latch for holding said toggle lever buckled, a hand lever having a connection for moving said spring latch into an inoperative position, and automatic means for resetting said spring latch.

14. The combination with a car platform,

. of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering move ments, a toggle lever for operating said step, yielding means operative on said toggle lever and tending to move said step into one of its extreme positions, a. lever for moving said step into its other extreme position, against l, the action of said yielding means, and means for automatically securing said lever in either of its extreme positions.

15. The combination with a car platform,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 1

of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, a spring tending to buckle said toggle lever and raise said step, a latch lever for lowering said step against the tension of said spring, and means for automatically securing said latch lever in a locked position when said step is lowered.

16. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, a spring tending to buckle said toggle lever and raise said step, a latch lever for lowering said step against the tension of said spring, and means for automatically secur ing said latch lever in either of its extreme positions.

17. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, a spring tending to buckle said toggle lever and raise said step, a latch lever for lowering said step against the tension of said spring, a lock segment having a pair of circumferentially spaced lock notches with which said latch lever automatically interlocks, with a lateral springing action for securing said step in either of its raised or lowered positions.

18. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, a yielding latch hook for holding said toggle lever in a buckled position and having a cam surface, and a lever operative on the cam surface of said latch hook for moving the'same into an inoperative position.

19. The combination with a car platform, of a step leading to said platform and mounted for raising and lowering movements, a toggle lever for operating said step, a yielding latch hook for holding said toggle lever in a buckled position and having a cam surface, a hand lever, arranged for engagement with the cam surface of said latch hook for moving said latch hook into an inoperative position, and a connection carried by said lever and arranged to be operated by the straightening movement of said toggle lever for resetting said latch hook.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. KUNZELMAN.

Witnesses:

PEARL LUEHRs, HARRY D. KILGORE.

Washington, D. 0. 

